Resources
Welcome to the Williams & Cleal Resources page
A new space where woodworkers can get the latest information on industry news, competitions, and exhibitions. This page will be periodically updated throughout the year.
If you want to stay up-to-date, you can also sign up to THE BENCH newsletter and get the very latest industry news delivered to your inbox monthly, as well as our pick of websites, podcasts, book recommendations and work opportunities.
Competitions & Exhibitions 2024
Here’s our list of top UK furniture making and craft events for the coming year.
JANUARY
The January Furniture Show - 21st to 24th
PLUS Accompanying Awards - BirminghamTop Drawer - 14th to 16th, S/S Week PLUS Accompanying Awards. London
MAY
Grand Designs Live - 4th to 12th, Birmingham
Craft In Focus - 7th to 10th - Hever Castle, Kent
JUNE / JULY
Craft Festival - 7th to 9th, Bovey Tracey, Devon
New Designers Week 1: 26th to 29th. Week 2: 3rd to 6th - London
SEPTEMBER
London Design Fair - 19th to 22nd, London
Top Drawer - 8th to 10th, A/W Week PLUS Accompanying Awards London
NOVEMBER
Craft Festival -17th to 19th November, Cheltenham
Funding Applications
QEST is a charity dedicated to supporting excellence in British craftsmanship. The next funding application round opens in January 2024.
To support applicants in preparing their application for the next round of funding, an online recording session called 'How to apply for a Scholarship' is now available.To receive a copy of the recording, please email info@qest.org.uk
The Furniture Makers Company is the UK guild for furniture making. They support the industry in a number of ways, including hosting the annual Young Furniture Makers Award, and they also offer small grants for wood workers experiencing financial hardship. You must have been employed in the industry for at least two years to apply:
The Welfare Grant
Job Opportunities and Training
Your Furniture Career
A sister site of The Furniture Makers Company, the YourFurnitureCareer.org website lists work and training opportunities for wood workers in the UK:
Your Furniture Career
The Crafts Council
The UK’s charitable body for supporting craft makers. They have a jobs board where they list exhibition opportunities and vacancies within the craft and design industries:
Jobs and Opportunities Board
They also have list of business-related resources to help designer/makers with everything from financial advice to social media and PR:
Craft Business Resources